It was great to see Cornwall host the national Armed Forces Day
2023 event at the weekend, celebrating our Armed Forces and the role they play
in protecting us both at home and overseas.
Armed Forces Day is a time to reflect
and thank those who have served and continue to serve our country, and I had the
honour of being invited to attend the day in Falmouth, where the event was
based.
Members
of the Armed Forces took part in a tri-service parade which featured more
than 1,000 military personnel, veterans and cadets, and demonstrated phenomenal
precision and professionalism.
The
parade was watched by The Duke of Gloucester,
who was presented with the Royal Salute, before a flypast by the RAF Red
Arrows, A400M, Merlin and Avenger aircraft. It was a remarkable display
and something I will remember for a very long time to come.
While the event itself was
held in Falmouth, Cornwall’s strong military tradition and close and continuing
links with our forces saw it chosen as the location to host Armed Forces Day 2023,
following a competitive bidding process.
Cornwall is home to around
39,000 veterans and one in five people in Cornwall have a personal or family
connection to the Armed Forces, and so I was pleased to have the opportunity to
pay my respects to those who selflessly serve our country, especially given the
constituency’s links to the Armed Forces.
RAF St Mawgan is the only RAF
station in the South West and I know the personnel based there work tirelessly
throughout the year to keep the UK safe. It was great to see such a big turnout
of public support to recognise the work they do and have done to defend our
freedom throughout the station’s 80-year history.
I don’t believe a better
backdrop could have been found for this year’s Armed Forces Day national event.
Cornwall should be proud of the role it has played in this year’s event, which
saw around 100,000 visitors from all corners of the UK welcomed to the county
to share in the celebrations and more than £5.5 million brought into the
Cornish economy.
I want to congratulate Armed
Forces Champion for Cornwall Council, Newquay Councillor Louis Gardner for the
strong and successful bid that ensured Cornwall secured this national event and for a
brilliant day. This would not have been possible without Cllr Gardner’s hard
work and determination. People I spoke to throughout the day told me it was the
best Armed Forces Day they have ever been to which is testament to the
fantastic job Cllr Gardner and Cornwall Council did. It was a very proud day
for Cornwall and shows just what we can achieve.
I am also proud to be part of this
government which holds the welfare of its military personnel and veterans at
its heart. While we do not see much of the service that goes on, we do recognise the sacrifice that serving personnel, and
their families, make for us.
Last year I was pleased to
see the Government come forward with its
new UK Armed Forces Families Strategy which sets out how we will make the
recognition and care of our Service families a national priority. It is absolutely right we do all we can
as a country to support them and this strategy is an important step towards
achieving that.
I was also privileged during my time on
the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme to visit the Falklands and talk to residents
who lived through the war. The Falklands have several close connections to
Cornwall - 30,000 sailors, marines, soldiers, airmen and merchant mariners took
part in the Falklands War along with many civilians who supported the war
effort.
We must never forget the heroic efforts
of all our veterans and the importance of our military and the huge sacrifices
they make to protect our freedom. I have nothing, but
the highest respect for members of our Armed Forces. Their service to King and
Country sets an example to us all.
If I can be of assistance or help on any
matter, please get in touch with my office on 01726 829379 or email office@stevedouble.org.uk
